Shoe upper shaping machine



Sept. 13, 1955 M. 1 DODG-E 2,717,402

SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE .Filed July 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, 1955 M.- DODGE 2,717,402

SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE Filed July 7, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I W611i &

M. L. DODGE SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE Sept. 13, 1955 I 6 M z mm Filed July 7, 1952 Sept. 13, 1955 M. L. DODGE SHOE UPPER SHAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 7, 1952 United States Patent SHOE UPPER SHAPlNG MACHINE Milton L. Dodge, N ewburyport, Mass., assignor to Compo Shoe Machinery Corporation, Boston, Mass, 2 corporation of Delaware Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,432

6 Claims. (CI. 1251) This invention relates to machines for exerting various shaping operations such as stretching and pressing various portions of the uppers of shoes.

One object of the invention is to provide means for closing the counter portion, more particularly adjacent to the foot opening.

Still another object is to provide means for pressing and turning inwardly the heel end of the shoe upper to provide a closer fit about the margin of the foot opening, and, if desired, to effect shortening of the shoe.

Still another object is to provide means for pressing and smoothing the throat portion of the shoe to improve its contour appearance, its fit, and comfort.

For a complete understanding of this invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation to a larger scale of the same machine.

Figure 3 is a top plan view at the scale of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 are detail sectional views on lines 44 and 55, respectively, of Figure 3, Figure 4 being also a sectional view on line 44 of Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail similar to a portion of Figure 6, but showing certain parts in different positions.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on line 8--8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view on line 99 of Figure 3.

Figures 10 and 11 are detail sectional views on lines 1010 and 1111, respectively, of Figure 9, showing, however, a dilferent type of stretching form than Figures 9 and 10.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly broken away and in section showing a toe form which may be substituted for the form shown in Figures 9 and 10 for vertical stretching of the forward portion of the shoe toe.

Figure 13 is a sectional view on line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a toe form having a corn or bunion relieving knob to efiect local stretching of a shoe.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the machine comprises a stand 1 which may be secured to a suitable base such as a bench or counter. This stand 1 has pivoted to a bracket 1a extending laterally therefrom, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, on a horizontal pivot adjacent to its upper end at 2, a forwardly extending arm 3 (see Figures 2 and 9) which is turned downwardly as at 4 so as to depend below the upper portion of the bracket 1a, and having a free lower end at 5 extending forwardly and upwardly as shown best in Figure 9. A screw 6 is threaded through the portion 3 of this arm and its lower end bears against the top face of the portion 7 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 ice of the bracket 1a; This screw 6 is provided with an enlarged head 3 at its upper end in the form of a'hand wheel to facilitate its turning. It will be evident that by turning this screw downwardly the forward portion of the arm 3 may be raised. This portion 5 of the arm cooperates with a pair of spaced arms 10 each pivoted on a vertical pivot 11 to the upper portion of the bracket 11;, the forward upturned free ends 12 lying adjacent to and on either side of the end 5, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. The arms 10 are projected rearwardly of their pivots 11 where they are crossed, as shown best in Figure 11, and a screw 15 is threaded through one'of these crossed ends and bears against the other crossedend as at 16; Thisscrew 15 may be provided with an enlarged hand wheel head 17 similar to the head 8.

These forwardly upwardly inclined portions 5 and 12 of the arms may receive selectively either of two twopart shoe forms of different types. For example, as shown inFigure 9, a two-part shoe form 20 is provided having separate upper and lower portions 21 and 22. The upper portion 21 is adapted to be supportedon the free end portion 5 of the central arm while. the lower portion 22, as shown best in Figure '10, is provided with inwardly turned top portions 25 arranged to engage over the upper edges of the portions 12. g 7

When a shoe, such as shown at A in Figure 9, is placed over such a form, the two parts of the form entering the toe portion of the shoe, and the end wheel 8 is turned to lift the portion 5, these portions 21 and 22 are sep arated vertically, resulting .in stretching of the vamp portion of the shoe vertically. Where the toe form of the non-interconnected construction shown in Figures 9 or 10 is employed, the maximum separation of the form parts occurs at their rear portions, their forward portions remaining in contact. However, by employing a toe form part 21a, such as shown in Figures 12 and 13, with a notched rear portion 26 engaging over pins 27 on the lower part 22a, the upper form part is rockedabout the pins 27 when the arm 5 is lifted, separating the forward ends of the form parts as shown in dotted lines in Figure 12. With either construction of toe form the upper part may, if desired, be provided with one or more corn or bunion attachments such as the headed plug 28 selectively insertable in any of the holes 29 as shown in Figure 14;

In place of employing the form 20, a two-part form 30 of suitable size and shape with corn or bunion attachments, if desired, may be employed as shown best in Figure 11. One of the parts 31 of this form has a recess 32 engaged over a hump 33 at the forward end of the part 12, and the other form part 35 has a'similar but a reversely positioned recess at 36 engaging a similar re versely positioned hump 37 on the other part 12. This form does not engage the central arm 3. 'When a shoe is placed on this two-partform, and the hand wheel 17 is turned so as to separate the rear crossed ends of this pair of arms, the two parts of the form 30 are laterally spread so as to stretch the shoe laterally.

As shown in Figure 9, the bracket 1a may be provided witha rearwardly and downwardly inclined rack bar 40 on which is slidably mounted. a casing 41 between the sides of which is pivoted a gear 42 meshing with the teeth on the lower face of the rack bar. Thisgear 42 is secured to its pivot shaft 43, to the outer end of which beyond one side of the part 41 it has secured thereto a hand wheel 48. The forward end of the frame 41 is provided with a depending portion 50 carrying a pad 51 adjustable in a vertical direction at its lower end shaped to engage against the inner face of a shoe upper placed on either of the forms 20 or 30, at the heel end. By rotating the hand wheel 48 in a direction to cause the frame 41 to move down the rack bar 40, this pad 51 is engaged and pressed rearwardly against the upper so that the shoe is stretched lengthwise. A spring-pressed dog 52 is positioned between the sides of the frame 41 and has a lug 53 engageable between the rack teeth and pressed theretoward as by a leaf spring 54. This dog will therefore tend to lock the frame 41 against upward motion when it has been moved to a downward shoe-stretching position. It is provided with a releasing handle 55 by which it may be released by the operator to permit the lifting of the frame 41 and the freeing of the shoe.

The stand 1 directly carries upper pressing means, and for this purpose a forwardly projecting head 60, as shown best in Figure6, has a shoe form 61 secured to its lower face. Above the shoe form this portion is provided with a slot 62 through which extends alever 63 which is pivoted on the cross pivot 64 to rock in substantially the central vertical longitudinal plane of the form 61. This lever 63 has a forward instep pressing pad 65 shaped to engage the instep portion of a shoe carried by the form 61. Its rear end has a pressing pad 66 which may be brought against the upper outer portion of the heel end of a shoe upper, as shown in Figure 7, and press it against a rounded extremity 67 of the form 61. These'presser parts may be employed to shape the throat and heel end portion 'of the shoe upper by suitable manipulation of the lever 63, which has a forward extending handle member 70 provided with a ball end 71. The lever 63 may be held in mid-position when desired by a pivoted gravity latch 63 fulcrumed on the part 60 and engaged in a notch in the side of the lever 63 as shown best in Figures 3 and 4. A smaller ball 71a on a post may be employed, by placing a shoe thereover and pulling downwardly thereagainst, to produce local stretching effects as may be desired. The shoe upper may be pressed against the side portions of the form 61, and for this purpose there is pivoted to the portion 60 at 72 and 73, a pair of jaws 74 and 75. Each of these jaws has pressing pads as 76 at their lower ends which may engage the upper of a shoe placed on the form 61 as shown best in Figure 8.

The upper ends of the jaws 74 and may be provided with follower rolls 77 between which may be pressed a wedge-shaped member 78 carried by a hand lever 79 pivoted transverse to the jaws 74 and 75 at 80 to the stand 1 to rock up and down and the forward end of which carries a pull handle 81 which may have a ball end similar to the ball end 71. By pressing downwardly on the handle 81 the wedge member may be pressed in between the follower rolls 77, forcing them apart and forcing the presser pads 76 toward the curved top and side faces of the form 61 and pressing the fishoe upper between them in a manner to'thin the upper edges of the upper adjacent to the shoe opening and turn them inwardly as shown in Figure 8. This form 61 may be heated, and for this purpose a suitable electric heating element 85 may be inserted in a socket in the form 61.

From the foregoing description it will be seen there is provided in a single machine, elements for accomplishing various pressing and stretching actions which may be found desirable to use at various times in properly shaping shoes to the requirements of the individual foot. The pressingaction may be accomplished selectively entirely around the margin of the foot opening, and some of the pressingmeans may be actuated independently of others. Thus the side portions around the shoe opening may be pressed by the members 76 at the same time, while the 4 member 63 may be actuated to press the vamp margin or heel end independently of the side pressing and independently of each other. This machine is entirely handoperated and is suitable for use in a retail shoe store and shoe repair departments or other establishments such as those having to do with the treatment of foot disorders to meet the particular requirements of the individual customer.

From the foregoing description of an embodiment of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

I claim:

1. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, side presser jaws arranged to swing from and toward said form for pressing the sides of the shoe against said form, and a pressure jaw arranged to swing from and toward said form for pressing the throat of the shoe against said form.

2. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, side presser jaws arranged to swing from and toward said form for pressing the sides of the shoe against said form, and a pressure jaw arranged to swing from and toward said form for pressing the heel end of a shoe against said form.

3. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, an arm carrying the shoe pressing pads and so arranged that when swung in one direction it presses the throat of the shoe against said form and when swung in the other direction it presses the heel end of the shoe against said form.

4. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, elements movably mounted to selectively press portions of a shoe on said form adjacent to the foot opening against said form, said elements together being effective to press the shoe upper about the entire margin of said foot opening.

5. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, elements movably mounted to selectively press portions of a shoe on said form adjacent to the foot opening against said form, said elements together being effective to press the shoe upper about the entire margin of said foot opening, and means actuable to so move said elements.

6. In combination, a form over which a shoe may be placed, elements movably mounted to selectively press portions of a shoe on said form adjacent to the foot opening against said form, said elements together being effective to press the shoe upper about the entire margin of said foot opening, and means actuable to so move said elements and certain of said elements independently of other of said elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,273,324 Brock July 23, 1918 2,164,864 Dove et al July 4, 1939 2,167,410 Smith July 25, 1939 2,171,543 Dodge Sept. 5, 1939 2,230,449 Dodge Feb. 4, 1941 2,308,271 Dodge Jan. 12, 1943 2,316,125 Smith Apr. 6, 1943 2,357,596 MacDonald Sept. 5, 1944 2,385,270 Gregory Sept. 18, 1945 2,452,440 De Curtis Oct. 26, 1948 

